SP will be holding its national convention in Lucknow on Sunday which was called by Ram Gopal Yadav on an emergency basis two days ago.

The UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was declared the national president of the Samajwadi Party in a national executive meeting called on January 1, 2017, deposing his father Mulayam Singh Yadav. (Akhilesh Yadav/Twitter)

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Sunday that making the right decision was important to “protect someone you love”. “Today’s decision was tough...” he posted on Twitter, referring to the coup of sorts that unseated his father Mulayam Singh as the ruling Samajwadi Party’s national president.

On a day of dramatic developments, an “extraordinary national convention” by the CM’s camp also “sacked” Shivpal Yadav as the state party president and expelled parliamentarian Amar Singh from the party.

For his part, Mulayam called another national convention of the party on January 5, declaring as illegal all decisions giving Akhilesh the upper hand. Mulayam sacked party national general secretary Ramgopal Yadav, who declared that the “special emergency” meeting had elected Akhilesh as the party national president.

This is the latest in a protracted tussle for control of the party between factions loyal to Akhilesh and his uncle Shivpal Yadav ahead of state polls due early this year.

9:27pm: Mulayam Singh Yadav complains of high blood pressure, doctors do a health check up at his residence

8:58pm: Shivpal Yadav says he is going with Mulayam to Delhi to retain their election symbol. “Their convention did not follow procedures,” he reportedly said. Akhilesh Yadav is also expected to go to Delhi to meet the commission to stake his claim to contest the assembly election under the SP symbol of cycle, ANI reported

7pm: SP to move Election Commission tomorrow; will stake claim to fight on party symbol in UP election as Akhilesh Yadav is now party’s national president: SP sources to ANI

6:40pm: It is unfortunate, netaji’s (Mulayam) step is totally unconstitutional... He doesn’t understand that Amar Singh and Shivpal have him in their grasp: Naresh Agarwal on his expulsion to ANI